Sharks play a key role in marine ecosystems worldwide. At the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, systematic study of mid-Atlantic sharks began in 1973 with the VIMS Shark Survey, which now stands as the longest-running fishery-independent study of shark populations in the world. This longline survey brought global attention to significant declines in shark populations due to overfishing, and led to the first U.S. management plan for sharks, in 1993. As fishing regulations help shark populations rebound in U.S. waters, data from shark research programs at VIMS continue to inform stock assessments and fishery management plans at federal and state levels.

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COASTSPAN Tagging

The Cooperative Atlantic States Shark Pupping and Nursery survey is an ongoing investigation of shark nursery grounds along the U.S. East Coast. Here, COASTSPAN researcher Jeff Eckert of VIMS tags a juvenile sandbar shark on the Eastern Shore.